Benzamide derivatives and plant growth regulants containing them

ABSTRACT

A benzamide derivative of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R 1  is hydrogen or methyl, and R is hydroxyl, C 1  -C 6  alkoxy, alkenylalkoxy, alkoxyalkoxy, amino, C 1  -C 4  monoalkylamino, monoalkenylamino, dialkylamino or O-cat wherein cat is a metal, ammonium or an organic cation.

The present invention relates to certain specific benzamide derivatives and plant growth regulants containing such benzamide derivatives.

As plant growth regulants, it has been known to utilize plant hormones or compounds having similar activities, or to utilize compounds which exhibit antagonistic activities against gibberellin or auxin or which inhibit biosynthesis by plant hormones in the plant bodies. The latter agents may be divided into folier treatment agents and soil treatment agents.

The folier treatment agents have a long history and include maleic acid hydrazide (MH), 2-chloroethyl trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) and (N-dimethylamino)succinamide acid (SADH), as typical examples. MH is useful to control axillary buds of tabacco or to improve storage stability of onion. CCC is used to reduce lodging of wheat or as a dwarfing agent useful in the field of horticulture. SADH is used in the fields of dwarfing, growth suppressing or induction of flower buds for fruit trees or green trees.

The soil treating agents include many agents which have been developed in relatively recent years. Many of them, such as triazole type agents, have very strong activities, which last for a long period of time. As a typical example, (2RS,3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)4,4-dimethyl-2-(lH-1,2,4-triazol-l-yl)pentan-3-ol (paclobutrazol) is used for reducing lodging of rice, for growth control of lawn, or for dwarfing or inducing flower buds in the field of horticulture.

In general, the effects of such plant growth regulants are very much influenced by the species and growing stage of the plant, or by the weather or soil conditions. Therefore, various agents are selectively used in various fields. The compounds of the present invention have activities antagonistic to plant hormones and belong to folier treatment agents exhibiting such activities.

Conventional folier treatment agents are usually poor in their activities and require a large dose. Further, depending upon the plants, the sensitive period is limited, and the optimum period of treating time is narrow. If they are used at a high concentration to increase their activities, phytotoxicity such as withering due to the high concentration is likely to be brought about, and the applicable range of plant species due to variation in the sensitivity tends to be narrow. For example, MH has strong side effects and is likely to bring about phytotoxicities such as whitening or withering. CCC is useful as a lodging reducing agent, but the optimum period for treatment is narrow for wheat, and the activities are poor for rice or barley.

In the case of the horticultural plants cultivated in pots, weak activities of an agent such as SADH, may be supplemented since the agent can be used as a folier and soil treatment agent. However, in the case of green trees cultivated on earth, the weakness of the activities can hardly be supplemented.

On the other hand, soil treatment agents are susceptible to the influence of the nature of soil or the amount of rain. If they are ineffective or applied excessively, they remain in soil and tend to adversely affect the subsequent crops or the cultivation of subsequent years, or in the case of parmanent crop plants, they are likely to terminate the growth of the crop plants for several years.

These drawbacks have been solved to a large extent by the activities of phenoxy acetic acid (propionic acid) benzamide derivatives (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 216803/1988 and No. 29348/1989). However, these agents are still inadequate, when handling efficiency and a high level of activities are required. For example, when they are used as lodging reducing agents for rice, the application tends to be non-uniform since the difference in the activities due to the variation of dose is large. From the viewpoint of the sensitivity, wheat and barley have poor sensitivity as compared with rice, and the same applies to lawn grass of cold area type. The sensitivity of egg plants is also poor. Their effects for controlling axillary buds of tabacco are poor. Also in the horticultural field, they have had a problem that it is difficult to control the dwarfing effects and the influence to the flowers.

The present inventors have conducted extensive researches on the plant activities of novel benzamide derivatives and have found that certain specific benzamide derivatives exhibit various activities including strong activities to control plant growth against various plants i.e. activities to shorten stems, to promote tillering, to control development of fresh buds, to promote development of flower buds or to thin fruits (or flowers), or in some cases, to promote formation of axillary buds, and yet they are capable of solving the problems of the conventional plant growth regulants. The present invention has been accomplished on the basis of these discoveries.

The present invention provides a benzamide derivative of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R₁ is hydrogen or methyl, and R is hydroxyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, alkenylalkoxy, alkoxyalkoxy, amino, C₁ -C₄ monoalkylamino, monoalkenylamino, dialkylamino or 0-cat wherein cat is a metal, ammonium or an organic cation.

The benzamide derivative of the present invention is capable of reducing the difference in the activities against rice due to the variation in the dose, without substantially impairing the basic activities as the plant growth regulant as disclosed with respect to the phenoxy acetic acid (propionic acid) benzamide derivatives (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 216803/1988 and No. 29348/1989). Further, the sensitivities of wheat, barley, lawn grass of cold area type and egg plants are thereby improved, and their effects against these plants are excellent. Their activities in the horticultural field are also excellent, whereby application at a low concentration is now possible. The benzamide derivative of the present invention is therefore useful in a wide range of fields including dwarfing, induction of flower buds and thinning of fruits by properly selecting the time for the treatment. When the compound of the present invention is used as plant growth regulant, care should be taken so that it is applied sufficiently to the foliage of plants. The dose varies depending upon the type of the plant to be treated, the type of the compound or the time of application. However, it is usually applied at a dose of the active ingredient within a range of from 0.1 to 100 g/a (gram/are), preferably from 1 to 50 g/a. It is common to employ the compound of the present invention in the form of various formulations including a wettable powder, an emulsifiable concentrate, a dust or a microgranule formulation.

As a lodging reducing agent, the active ingredient is applied at a dose within a range of from 0.5 to 4 g/a during a period ranging from 20 days prior to heading to the time of heading. To control lawn grasses, the active ingredient is applied at a dose within a range of from 5 to 20 g/a immediately prior to cutting.

To dwarf broad leaf gramineous plants or to prevent overgrowth thereof, the active ingredient is applied at a dose within a range of from 1 to 10 g/a during a period of from immediate prior to the growing period to the initial stage of the growing period. To dwarf green trees or to prevent spindly growth, the active ingredient is applied at a dose within a range of from 3 to 30 g/a immediately prior to trimming or at the time when new buds have grown to a few centimeter after trimming.

To induce flower buds or to promote development of flower buds, the active ingredient is applied at a dose within a range of from 0.2 to 2 g/a prior to the formation of flower buds. To thin fruits, the same dose is applied during one month from full bloom.

To control the flower stem development of root crops or to increase the sugar content of root crops, the active ingredient is applied at a dose within a range of from 5 to 20 g/a immediately prior to the flower stem development, or spot treatment is applied.

To improve the storage stability of root crops, the active ingredient is applied at a dose within a range of from 5 to 40 g/a from one to two weeks prior to hervest.

To increase the sugar content in sugar cane, the active ingredient is applied at a dose within a range of from 10 to 30 g/a from one week to two month prior to heading.

To control the height of large weeds in a non-agricultural field, the active ingredient is applied at a dose within a range of from 12.5 to 100 g/a when they have grown to a height from 30 to 100 cm, or when they have grown to a height exceeding 30 cm after cutting.

As an agent to prolong the life of cut flowers, flower bud portions are immersed in a solution containing from 5 to 50 ppm of the active ingredeint, followed by storage or use. Otherwise, a diluted solution is continuously permitted for absorption from the time of the flower buds.

Now, representative compounds of the present invention will be given in Table 1. The respective compounds will be identified by compound Nos.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Compound                                Melting point                          No.     Chemical formula                (°C.)                           __________________________________________________________________________              ##STR3##                         184-185.5                            2                                                                                       ##STR4##                       102.5-103                              3                                                                                       ##STR5##                         96-97.5                              4                                                                                       ##STR6##                       77.5-78                                5                                                                                       ##STR7##                       89-90                                  6                                                                                       ##STR8##                       78.5-79                                7                                                                                       ##STR9##                       83.5-84.5                              8                                                                                       ##STR10##                      81.5-83                                9                                                                                       ##STR11##                      226-229                                10                                                                                      ##STR12##                      186-188                                11                                                                                      ##STR13##                      177-178                                12                                                                                      ##STR14##                      221-222                                13                                                                                      ##STR15##                      174.5-175.5                            14                                                                                      ##STR16##                      189-190                                15                                                                                      ##STR17##                      187.5-188.5                            16                                                                                      ##STR18##                      217.5-218.5                            17                                                                                      ##STR19##                      181.5-182                              18                                                                                      ##STR20##                      133-135                                19                                                                                      ##STR21##                      106.5-107                              20                                                                                      ##STR22##                      at least 230                           21                                                                                      ##STR23##                       97-102                                22                                                                                      ##STR24##                      141-142                                23                                                                                      ##STR25##                        59-59.5                              24                                                                                      ##STR26##                      60-61                                  25                                                                                      ##STR27##                      70-72                                  26                                                                                      ##STR28##                      48-51                                  27                                                                                      ##STR29##                      62-63                                  28                                                                                      ##STR30##                      at least 200                           29                                                                                      ##STR31##                      101-103                                30                                                                                      ##STR32##                        181-181.5                            31                                                                                      ##STR33##                      203-204                                32                                                                                      ##STR34##                      152-154                                33                                                                                      ##STR35##                      173-175                                34                                                                                      ##STR36##                      146-148                                35                                                                                      ##STR37##                      119-120                                40 (Comparative)                                                                        ##STR38##                        198-199.5                            __________________________________________________________________________

The benzamide derivative of the present invention can readily be produced in good yield by reacting a compound of the formula: ##STR39## wherein R₁ is as defined above, with various alcohols, alkoxy alcohols, alkenyl alcohols, monoalkylamines, dialkylamines or alkenylamines in an organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, methylene chloride or toluene by means of a dehydration condensing agent such as dicyclohexyl carbodiimide or N,N'-carbonyldiimidazol.

Further, the compound of the formula I can be reacted with various alcohols, alkoxy alcohols or alkenyl alcohols in an organic solvent such as benzene or toluene in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid to form the corresponding benzamide derivatives.

A compound of the formula I wherein R₁ is hydrogen, can be prepared by the process as shown by the following formulas ##STR40##

Namely, a compound of the formula II is reacted with an inorganic cyanide compound such as sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide in a polar solvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide or dimethylsulfoxide, to obtain a compound of the formula III. The compound of the formula III is hydrolyzed by 95% sulfuric acid to obtain an acid amide derivative of the formula III', which is then reacted with sodium nitrite in acetic acid in the presence of a sulfuric acid catalyst to obtain the compound of the formula I wherein R₁ is hydrogen.

A compound of the formula I wherein R₁ is methyl can be prepared by a process of the following formulas: ##STR41##

Namely, a compound of the formula IV is hydrolyzed with 95% sulfuric acid to obtain an acid amide derivative, which is then reacted with sodium nitrite in acetic acid in the presence of a sulfuric acid catalyst to obtain a compound of the formula V. Then, the compound of the formula V is converted with e.g. thionyl chloride to an acid chloride derivative of the formula VI, which is then reacted with 2,3-dichloroaniline in an organic solvent such as acetone in the presence of a suitable acid acceptor such as sodiumhydrogen carbonate to obtain a compound of the formula VII. The compound of the formula VII is hydrolyzed with e.g. sodium hydroxide to obtain the compound of the formula I wherein R₁ is methyl.

Now, Examples of the preparation of representative compounds of the present invention will be described. However, it should be understood that the present invention is by no means restricted by such specific Examples.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of Compound No. 9 as identified in Table 1

30.2 g of 2',3'-dichloro-4-chloromethyl-benzanilide was dispersed in 200 ml of N,N-dimethylformamide, and 5.8 g of sodium cyanide was added thereto. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 8 hours. After completion of the reaction, insoluble substances were removed by filtration. The filtrate was poured into 500 ml of water and extracted three times with 150 ml of ethyl acetate. The extract was washed twice with 200 ml of water and then dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. Then, the solvent was distilled off, and the residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (methylene chloride) to obtain a compound of the formula III. This compound was dissolved in 200 ml of 95% sulfuric acid, and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 7 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was poured into 500 ml of ice water, and the resulting crystals were collected by filtration, washed with water and dried to obtain 23.5 g of desired 4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)phenylacetamide. The yield was 76.7%, and the metling point of this compound was from 226° to 229° C.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of Compound No. 1 as identified in Table 1

10.7 g of 4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)phenylacetamide was dispersed in 100 ml of acetic acid, and 17.5 ml of sulfuric acid was added. Then, a solution obtained by dissolving 3.2 g of sodium nitrite in 17.5 ml of water, was dropwise added to bring the reaction temperature to a level of 20° C. ±5° C. Thereafter, the mixture was stirred at room temperature for two hours, and then poured into 400 ml of ice water. The resulting crystals are collected by filtration, thoroughly washed with water and then dried to obtain 9.8 g of desired 4(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)phenyl acetic acid. The yield was 91.3%, and the melting point of this compound was from 184° to 185.5° C.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of Compound No. 8 as identified in Table 1

A mixture comprising 1.5 g of 4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)phenyl acetic acid, 0.55 g of 2-n-butoxyethanol, 0.5 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid and 30 ml of toluene, was refluxed for 7 hours while removing water by a partial condenser. After completion of the reaction, 50 ml of ethyl acetate and 100 ml of water were added for extraction. The organic layer was washed with water and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was distilled off, and the residue was recrystallized from benzene-hexane to obtain 1.82 g of desired 2-n-butoxyethyl 4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)phenyl acetate. The yield was 92.7%, and the melting point of this compound was from 81.5° to 83° C.

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of Compound No. 11 as identified in Table 1

1.5 g of 4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)phenyl acetic acid was dissolved in 30 ml of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. While cooling the solution with ice water, 0.75 g of N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole was added thereto, and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. Thereafter, 0.27 g of n-propylamine was added thereto. The mixture was returned to room temperature and stirred for 5 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was poured into 200 ml of water. The resulting crystals were collected by filtration, washed with water and dried, and then recrystallized from benzene-hexane to obtain 1.5 g of desired N-n-propyl-4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)phenylacetamide. The yield was 88.8%, and the melting point of this compound was from 177° to 178° C.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of Compound No. 20 as identified in Table 1

1.5 g of 4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)phenyl acetic acid was dissolved in 30 ml of methanol, and 0.2 g of sodium hydroxide was added thereto. The mixture was stirred for one hour. Insoluble substances were removed by filtration, and methanol was distilled off from the filtrate to obtain 1.49 g of desired sodium salt of 4(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)phenyl acetic acid. The yield was 93.0 %, and the melting point of this compound was at least 230° C.

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of Compound No. 23 as identified in Table 1

a) Preparation of a compound of the formula V

8.12 g of ethyl 2-(4-cyanophenyl)-propionate was dissolved in 50 ml of 95% sulfuric acid, and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 7 hours. The reaction solution was poured into 300 ml of ice water and extracted with 300 ml of ethyl acetate. The extract was washed sequentially with an aqueous sodiumhydrogen carbonate solution and with water and then dried over anhydrous magensium sulfate. Then, the solvent was distilled off to obtain the corresponding acid amide derivative. This derivative was dispersed in 100 ml of acetic acid, and 6 ml of sulfuric acid was added thereto. Then, a solution obtained by dissolving 7.46 g of sodium nitrite in 20 ml of water, was dropwise added to bring the reaction temperature to a level of 20° C. ±5° C. After completion of the dropwise addition, the mixture was stirred at from temperature for two hours. Then, the reaction solution was poured into 400 ml of ice water, and the resulting crystals were collected by filtration, thoroughly washed with water and then dried to obtain 6.8 g of the desired compound of the formula V. The yield was 76.6%.

b) Preparation of ethyl 2-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)-phenyl]-propionate

A mixture comprising 6.66 g of the compound of the formula V, 5.35 g of thionyl chloride and 30 ml of dioxane, was stirred at 80° C. for 3 hours. Thereafter, the solvent and excess thionyl chloride was distilled off to obtain a compound of the formula VI which is an acid chloride derivative. To this compound, 20 ml of acetone and 5.04 g of sodium hydrogen carbonate were added. While stirring the mixture, a solution of 4.38 g of 2,3-dichloroaniline in 20 ml of acetone, was dropwise added over a period of 20 minutes at room temperature. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. Then, 100 ml of water and 200 ml of methylene chloride were added for extraction. The organic layer was washed with water and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. Then, the solvent was distilled off, and the residue was recrystallized from toluene-hexane to obtain 9.3 g of desired ethyl 2-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)-phenyl]propionate. The yield was 85%, and the melting point of this compound was from 59° to 59.5° C.

EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of Compound No. 22 as identified in Table 1

A mixture comprising 3.66 g of ethyl 2-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbomoyl)-phenyl]-propionate, 50 ml of methanol and 10 ml of a 2N-sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. Thereafter, the reaction solution was poured into 100 ml of ice water, and the pH was adjusted to 1 with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The resulting crystals were collected by filtration, thoroughly washed with water and dried to obtain 3.14 g of desired 2-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)-phenyl]-propionic acid. The yield was 93%, and the melting point of this compound was from 141° to 142° C.

EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of Compound No. 25 as identified in Table 1

3.38 g of 2-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)-phenyl]propionic acid was dissolved in 30 ml of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. While cooling the solution with ice water, 2.43 g of N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole was added thereto, and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. Thereafter, 0.74 g of isobutyl alcohol was added thereto. The mixture was returned to room temperature and stirred for 5 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was poured into 300 ml of water, and the resulting crystals were collected by filtration, washed with water and dried, and then recrystallized from toluene-hexane to obtain 3.15 g of desired isobutyl 2-[4-(2,3-dichloropheylcarbamoyl)-phenyl]-propionate. The yield was 80%, and the melting point of this compound was from 70° to 72° C.

EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of Compound No. 31 as identified in Table 1

3.38 g of 2-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)phenyl]propionic acid was dissolved in 30 ml of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. While cooling the solution with ice water, 2.43 g of N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole was added thereto, and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. Thereafter, 0.59 g of isopropylamine was added thereto. The mixture was returned to room temperature and stirred for 5 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was poured into 200 ml of water, and the resulting crystals were collected by filtration, washed with water and dried, and then recrystallized from toluene to obtain 3.30 g of desired N-isopropyl-2-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)-phenyl]-propionamide. The yield was 87%, and the melting point of this compound was from 203° to 204° C.

Now, Formulation Examples will be given. In these Examples, "parts" means "parts by weight" unless otherwise specified.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of wettable powder (Compound No. 1)

To 40 parts of Compound No. 1, 49 parts of kaolin clay and 3 parts of white carbon were added, and the mixture was mixed and pulverized by a kneader. Then, powdery surfactants i.e. 2 parts of Rapizol BB-75 (trade mark, dialkyl sulfosuccinate 75%, manufactured by Nippon Oil and Fats Co., Ltd.) and 6 parts of Sorpol 5039 (trade mark, polyoxyethylene alkylarylether sulfate 50%, manufactured by Toho Kagaku K.K.) were mixed thereto to obtain a wettable powder containing 40% by weight of Compound No. 1.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of wettable powder (Compound No. 22)

In the same manner as in Formulation Example 1, a wettable powder containing 30% by weight of Compound No. 22 with the following composition was prepared.

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No. 22  30 parts                                                      Kaolin clay      60 parts                                                      White carbon      2 parts                                                      Rapizol BB-75     2 parts                                                      Sorpol 5039       6 parts                                                      ______________________________________                                    

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of emulsifiable concentrate (Compound No. 6)

10 Parts of Compound No. 6 was dissolved in 47 parts of xylene and 33% of cyclohexanone, and 10 parts of Sorpol 800A (a mixture of polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkylate, polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether and special anion) was added thereto and dissolved under stirring to obtain an emulsifiable concentrate containing 10% by weight of Compound No. 6.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of emulsifiable concentrate (Compound No. 26)

In the same manner as in Formulation Example 3, an emulsifiable concentrate containing 25% by weight of Compound No. 26 with the following composition was prepared.

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No. 26  25 parts                                                      Toluene          35 parts                                                      Cyclohexanone    30 parts                                                      Sorpol 800A      10 parts                                                      ______________________________________                                    

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of dust (Compound No. 10)

5 Parts of a wettable powder containing 40% by weight of Compound No. 10 prepared in the same manner as in Formulation Example 1 was thoroughly mixed with 0.3 parts of Rapizol BB-75 and 94.7 parts of clay to obtain a dust containing 2% by weight of Compound No. 10.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of dust (Compound No. 28)

In the same manner as in Formulation Example 5, a dust containing 1% by weight of Compound No. 28 with the following composition was prepared.

Wettable powder containing

    ______________________________________                                         20% by weight of Compound No. 28                                                                        5      parts                                          Rapizol BB-75            0.3    part                                           Clay                     94.7   parts                                          ______________________________________                                    

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of micro-granule formulation (Compound No. 2)

To 50 parts of Compound No. 2, 3 parts of white carbon and 47 parts of kaolin clay were mixed, and the mixture was pulverized. 4 Parts of the pulverized mixture was added to 94 parts of fine particulate zeolite (48-150 mesh) under stirring in a speed kneader. While continuing the stirring, 2 parts by weight of polyoxyethylene dodecylether diluted with water was poured thereto. The mixture was prepared with a small amount of water until no powder was observed, and the mixture was withdrawn and dried under air stream to obtain a micro-granule formulation containing 2% by weight of Compound No. 2.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 8 Preparation formulation F (Compound No. 34)

In the same manner as in Formulation Example 7, a micro-granule formulation F containing 2% by weight of compound No. 34 with the following composition, was prepared.

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No. 34          2      parts                                          White carbon             1      part                                           Fine particulate zeolite (65-250 mesh)                                                                  46     parts                                          Fine particulate calcium carbonate                                                                      50     parts                                          (65-250 mesh)                                                                  Dialkyl sulfosuccinate   1      part                                           ______________________________________                                    

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of liquid formulation (Compound No. 21) 10 Parts of Compound No. 21 was dissolved in distilled water to obtain a liquid formulation containing 10% by weight of Compound No. 21. FORMULATION EXAMPLE 10 Preparation of liquid formulation (Compound No. 22)

In the same manner as in Formulation Example 9, a liquid formulation with the following composition was prepared:

    ______________________________________                                         Potassium salt of Compound No. 22                                                                    10 parts                                                 Distilled water       90 parts                                                 ______________________________________                                    

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 11 Preparation of flowable formulation (Compound No. 14)

To 40 parts of Compound No. 14, 50.3 parts of water, 5 parts of Sorpol 3742 (trade mark, polyoxyethylene styrylphenyl ether sulfate, manufactured by Toho Kagaku K.K.) as a surfactant and 0.5 part of Sorpol 7512 as a defoamer (a silicone type defoamer), were added, and the mixture was pulverized by a sand grinder. After taking the mixture out, 4 parts of ethylene glycol and 0.2 part of Vangel-B (trademark, an inorganic thickner containing Mg, Al and Si, manufactured by Sanyo Kasei K.K.) were added as a thickener and stabilizer, and the mixture was thoroughly stirred to obtain-a flowable formulation containing 40% by weight of Compound No. 14.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 12 Preparation of flowable formulation (Compound No. 32)

In the same manner as in Formulation Example 11, a flowable formulation containing 40% by weight of Compound No. 32 with the following composition was prepared.

    ______________________________________                                         Compound No. 32       40     parts                                             Water                 50.3   parts                                             Sorpol 3742           5      parts                                             Sorpol 7512           0.5    part                                              Ethylene glycol       4.0    parts                                             Vangel-B              0.2    parts                                             ______________________________________                                    

TEST EXAMPLE 1 Foliar treatment tests on various plants (plant growth regulant)

Rice (Orvza sativa) (Or), wheat (Triticum aestivaum) (Tr), French bean (Phaseolus vulqaris L.) (Ph) having vines, lettuce (Le) and tomato (To) were separately grown in porous pots of 60 cm², and thinned depending upon the size of the plants. The growth degrees were adjusted to a level of 3.5 leaf stage, and a diluted solution of each test compound was applied to the foliage of the plants by using a spray gan in an amount of 10 liter/a. 30 days later, the growth inhibition was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 2.

The evaluation was made in accordance with the following standards:

Growth control effects

0: Same as no treatment

1: Growth inhibition of about 20% as compared with no treatment

2: Growth inhibition of about 40% as compared with no treatment

3: Growth inhibition of about 60% as compared with no treatment

4: Growth inhibition of about 80% as compared with no treatment

5: No progress in growth observed since the treatment

Activities

G: Deepening of green color of leaves

T: Tillering

M: Malformed leaves

B: Withering of leaves

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Results of foliar treatment tests on various plants                                      Concen-                                                                        tration of                                                                     active                                                               Compound  ingredient  Growth control effects                                   No.       (%)         Or     Tr   Ph   Le   To                                 ______________________________________                                          1        0.1         5      5    5G   5    4                                            0.05        4T     4.5T 4    4    3                                            0.025       3      4T   3    3    2                                   3        0.1         5      5    5G   5G   4.5                                          0.05        5T     5T   4.5  5    4                                            0.025       4T     4T   4    4    3                                   5        0.1         5      5    5B   5G   5                                            0.05        5T     5    5G   5    4                                            0.025       4.5T   5T   4.5  5    3                                   8        0.1         5      5    5G   5G   5                                            0.05        5T     5    5G   5G   4                                            0.025       4.5T   5T   4.5  5    3                                   9        0.1         5T     5    5    5    4                                            0.05        4      4.5T 4    4    3                                            0.025       3      3    3    3    2                                  11        0.1         5      5    5    5G   4.5                                          0.05        5T     5T   4    5    4                                            0.025       4T     4T   3    4    3                                  15        0.1         5      5    5B   5G   4                                            0.05        5T     5T   5G   5    3                                            0.025       4T     4T   4    4    2                                  17        0.1         5      5    5G   5    4                                            0.05        5T     5T   4.5  5    3                                            0.025       4T     4T   4    4    2                                  19        0.1         5      5    5G   5    3                                            0.05        4T     4T   4.5  4    2                                            0.025       3      3    4    3    1                                  20        0.1         5      5    5    5    4                                            0.05        4      4.5T 4    4    3                                            0.025       3      4T   3    3    2                                  22        0.1         5      5    5B   5    4                                            0.05        5      5    5G   4    3                                            0.025       4.5T   5T   4    3    2                                  23        0.1         5      5    5G   5G   5                                            0.05        5T     5    5    4.5  4                                            0.025       4.5T   4T   4    4    3                                  25        0.1         5      5    5G   5    4                                            0.05        4.5T   4.5T 4    4    3                                            0.025       4T     4T   3    3    2                                  27        0.1         5      5    5G   5    4                                            0.05        4T     4.5T 4    4    3                                            0.025       4T     4T   3    3    2                                  28        0.1         5      5    5G   5    4                                            0.05        5T     5    4.5  4.5  3                                            0.025       4T     4T   4    4    2                                  29        0.1         5      5    5B   5    4                                            0.05        5      5    5G   4    3                                            0.025       4T     4T   4    3    2                                  31        0.1         5      5    5G   5    4                                            0.05        4      4.5  4.5  4    3                                            0.025       4T     4T   4    3    2                                  33        0.1         5      5    5G   5    4                                            0.05        4T     4T   4    4    3                                            0.025       3      3    3    3    2                                  35        0.1         5      5    5G   5    5                                            0.05        4T     4.5T 4    4    4                                            0.025       3      4    3    3    3                                  40        0.1         5      5    5    5    3                                  (Com-     0.05        4T     4T   3    4    1                                  parative) 0.025       2      2    1    1    0                                  ______________________________________                                    

TEST EXAMPLE 2 Lodging reducing test on rice (treatment prior to heading)

A paddy field to which paddy field rice seedlings (Koshihikari) were transplanted by a transplanter in a usual manner, was divided into unit plots of 20 m². A wettable powder, an emulsifiable concentrate and a flowable formulation were diluted with water in an amount corresponding to 5 l/a (are) and uniformly sprayed to the respective unit plots by a hand sprayer. A dust, a micro-granule formulation (48-150 mesh) and a microgranule formulation F (65-250 mesh) were uniformly applied to the unit plots by a small duster.

The treatment was conducted twice i.e. 20 days and 7 days prior to heading of rice. At the harvest, the stem length and the panicle length were measured with respect to the longest stems of 15 plants in each unit plot, and the means value was computed. The yield was indicated as a mean value of the weights of brown rice reaped from two areas of 3.3 m² in each unit plot. The lodging degree was evaluated in accordance with the following standards:

0: No lodging

1: 20% lodging or slanting

2: 40% lodging or slanting

3: 60% lodging or slanting

4: 80% lodging or slanting

5: complete lodging

The results are shown in Table 3. The numerical values represent percentages relative to the non-treated plots, which are indicated by rounding off to decimal place. The numerical values in the brackets () in Table 3 are the actually measured values.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Results of lodging reducing test on rice                                                Formula-                                                                            Dose of                                                                               20 days prior to heading                                                                          7 days prior to heading                         tion type                                                                           active Stem                                                                               Panicle        Stem Panicle                           Compound Content                                                                             ingredient                                                                            length                                                                             length                                                                              Yield                                                                              Lodging                                                                              length                                                                              length                                                                               Yield Lodging               No.      (%)  (g/a)  (%) (%)  (%) degree                                                                               (%)  (%)   (%)   degree                __________________________________________________________________________      1       Dust 2.0    83  102  107 1     79   103   108   0                              0.5  1.0    89  103  110 1.5   85   105   107   1                                   0.5    94   99  106 2     90   101   102   1.5                    3       Wettable                                                                            2.0    78   98  108 0     73    99   105   0                              powder                                                                              1.0    82  104  111 0     78    98   106   0                              30   0.5    89  101  103 1.5   83   102   108   1                      4       Emulsifi-                                                                           2.0    73  100  106 0     69    98   107   0                              able 1.0    79  102  108 0     74   100   111   0                              concen-                                                                             0.5    88  103  105 1     79   104   112   0                              trate 25                                                               6       Emulsifi-                                                                           2.0    75   99  108 0     70    99   110   0                              able 1.0    80  102  107 0     76    97   108   0                              concen-                                                                             0.5    85  101  110 1     81   103   109   0                              trate 25                                                               8       Flowable                                                                            2.0    73  103  108 0     70   101   106   0                              20   1.0    81  104  106 0     77   106   104   0                                   0.5    86  101  104 1     83   104   109   1                      9       Wettable                                                                            2.0    82   99  108 0     80   103   108   0                              powder                                                                              1.0    89  101  105 1.5   86   106   110   1                              50   0.5    96  100  103 3     91   101   103   2                     13       Micro-                                                                              4.0    85  105  107 1     81    98   111   0                              granule                                                                             2.0    90  102  105 2     87   102   108   1                              formula-                                                                            1.0    96  107  104 3     92   101   104   2                              tion 0.5                                                              18       Flowable                                                                            2.0    86  107  110 1     82    99   109   0                              25   1.0    92  101  105 2     88   101   107   1                                   0.5    97   99  103 3     92    99   110   2                     20       Micro-                                                                              4.0    81   97  108 0     78   101   105   0                              granule                                                                             2.0    87   98  110 1     84    98   109   0                              formula-                                                                            1.0    92  104  103 2     87   102   112   1                              tion F 0.5                                                            21       Liquid                                                                              2.0    77   97  106 0     72   103   107   0                              formula-                                                                            1.0    82   98  108 0     77    99   112   0                              tion 10                                                                             0.5    88  101  105 1     81   102   104   0                     22       Wettable                                                                            2.0    71   99  108 0     69    99   105   0                              powder                                                                              1.0    80  102  110 0     73   103   108   0                              50   0.5    83  103  107 1     79   101   105   0                     23       Emulsifi-                                                                           2.0    70  101  107 0     67   100   102   0                              able 1.0    78   98  108 0     70   102   108   0                              concen-                                                                             0.5    82  100  111 1     78   101   109   0                              trate 25                                                              24       Emulsifi-                                                                           2.0    76  100  108 0     71   103   104   0                              able 1.0    79  103  110 0     75   101   106   0                              concen-                                                                             0.5    83  104  111 1     80   101   109   0                              trate 25                                                              28       Micro-                                                                              4.0    88  101  108 1     84    97   108   1                              granule                                                                             2.0    93   98  105 2     88   102   105   1                              formula-                                                                            1.0    96  102  103 2.5   92   101   104   2                              tion 0.5                                                              29       Dust 2.0    87   98  110 1     81   100   108   0                              0.5  1.0    89  103  108 1.5   85    99   110   1                                   0.5    93   99  105 2     90   101   106   1.5                   30       Liquid                                                                              2.0    77  102  106 0     71   101   105   0                              formula-                                                                            1.0    79  103  106 0     75   104   107   0                              tion 15                                                                             0.5    84   99  109 1     79   101   110   0                     31       Flowable                                                                            2.0    76  101  104 0     71   102   105   0                              25   1.0    80  102  109 0     75   101   105   0                                   0.5    83  102  108 1     81   101   109   1                     34       Micro-                                                                              4.0    87  103  106 1     80    97   109   0                              granule                                                                             2.0    90  101  108 1     85   101   108   1                              formula-                                                                            1.0    93   99  104 2     90   101   107   2                              tion F 0.5                                                            40       Wettable                                                                            2.0    80  101  104 0     75    96   105   0                     (Comparative)                                                                           powder                                                                              1.0    89   97  106 1.5   83   101   106   1                              40   0.5    97   99  103 3     90    97   103   2                     No       --   --     100 100  100 4.5   100  100   100   4.5                   treatment                               (83.5 cm)                                                                           (18.5 cm)                                                                            (58.5                       __________________________________________________________________________                                                        kg/a)                  

TEST EXAMPLE 3 Lodging reducing test on wheat (treatment prior to heading)

A field of wheat (Norin No. 61) sown in rows in early November, was divided into unit plots of 20 m². Each compound diluted to a predetermined concentration was uniformly sprayed over the entire surface in a unit plot in an amount corresponding to 5 l/a on 20 days prior to heading i.e. early April and on 10 days prior to heading i.e. late April by a hand sprayer.

At the harvest in late June, the stem length and the panicle length were measured with respect to the longest stems of 15 plants of average growth, and the mean value was computed. The grain weight indicated is a mean value of the grain weights reaped from two areas of 3.3 m² in each unit plot. The lodging degree was evaluated by the same standards as in Test Example 2. The results are shown in Table 4.

The numerical values represent percentage values relative to the non-treated area, and the values in the brackets () are the actually measured values.

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Results of lodging reducing test on wheet                                      Formula- Dose of                                                                              20 days prior to heading                                                                        10 days prior to heading                       Com-                                                                               tion type                                                                           active                                                                               Stem                                                                               Panicle                                                                            Grain    Stem                                                                               Panicle                                                                             Grain                                 pound                                                                              Content                                                                             ingredient                                                                           length                                                                             length                                                                             weight                                                                             Lodging                                                                             length                                                                             length                                                                              weight                                                                             Lodging                           No. (%)  (g/a) (%) (%) (%) degree                                                                              (%) (%)  (%) degree                            __________________________________________________________________________     2   Wettable                                                                            4.0   87  102 106 0    85  99   106 0                                     powder                                                                              2.0   92  99  108 1    90  101  111 1                                     30   1.0   97  98  104 3    95  103  106 3                                 3   Wettable                                                                            4.0   85  101 108 0    83  104  108 0                                     powder                                                                              2.0   90  98  110 1    88  98   110 1                                     30   1.0   94  103 103 2    92  102  105 2                                 5   Flowable                                                                            4.0   84  98  112 0    81  103  108 0                                     20   2.0   89  104 108 1    86  105  107 0                                          1.0   93  101 106 2    91  99   104 1                                 7   Flowable                                                                            4.0   85  107 107 0    84  105  111 0                                     20   2.0   91  104 104 1    90  98   108 1                                          1.0   96  98  106 3    94  102  103 3                                 8   Emulsifi-                                                                           4.0   82  106 109 0    80  98   110 0                                     able 2.0   87  102 105 0    86  99   107 0                                     concen-                                                                             1.0   93  105 108 2    91  104  108 1                                     trate 20                                                                   10  Wettable                                                                            4.0   88  101 107 1    87  101  106 0                                     powder                                                                              2.0   92  104 110 1.5  91  97   112 1                                     50   1.0   98  99  102 4    97  98   104 3                                 15  Wettable                                                                            4.0   86  106 106 0    84  102  109 0                                     powder                                                                              2.0   90  96  112 1    88  98   108 1                                     50   1.0   94  101 104 2    92  104  105 2                                 19  Wettable                                                                            4.0   87  102 105 1    85  99   108 0                                     powder                                                                              2.0   91  97  107 1    88  105  107 1                                     30   1.0   96  98  103 3    93  101  105 2                                 20  Flowable                                                                            4.0   86  105 106 0    84  98   107 0                                     25   2.0   89  96  108 1    88  107  108 1                                          1.0   95  101 106 3    94  101  106 3                                 21  Liquid                                                                              4.0   84  98  105 0    82  108  109 0                                     formula-                                                                            2.0   88  104 110 1    85  99   114 0                                     tion 10                                                                             1.0   94  102 105 2    92  103  103 2                                 22  Flowable                                                                            4.0   79  99  105 0    78  96   103 0                                     30   2.0   85  98  108 0    84  104  106 0                                          1.0   92  102 106 2    90  101  107 1                                 23  Emulsifi-                                                                           4.0   77  104 104 0    75  100  103 0                                     able 2.0   83  99  109 0    82  95   107 0                                     concen-                                                                             1.0   90  101 104 2    89  104  109 2                                     trate 25                                                                   25  Emulsifi-                                                                           4.0   84  103 107 0    82  98   107 0                                     able 2.0   90  100 105 1    87  102  108 0                                     concen-                                                                             1.0   95  101 106 2    93  96   106 2                                     trate 20                                                                   27  Wettable                                                                            4.0   85  98  109 0    83  103  107 0                                     powder                                                                              2.0   92  102 107 1    90  101  108 1                                     30   1.0   96  101 104 3    94  100  108 2                                 28  Emulsifi-                                                                           4.0   78  97  103 0    77  102  104 0                                     able 2.0   83  105 105 0    82  104  107 0                                     concen-                                                                             1.0   88  96  108 1    91  102  106 1                                     trate 30                                                                   30  Wettable                                                                            4.0   81  101 107 0    80  102  105 0                                     powder                                                                              2.0   85  97  107 0    85  98   108 0                                     30   1.0   92  102 105 2    91  99   107 1                                 33  Flowable                                                                            4.0   87  103 106 0    85  101  106 0                                     30   2.0   93  99  107 2    91  97   108 1                                          1.0   99  98  101 4    97  98   102 3                                 35  Wettable                                                                            4.0   86  103 109 0    84  104  107 0                                     powder                                                                              2.0   92  98  106 1    90  101  107 1                                     50   1.0   98  101 102 4    96  106  103 3                                 40  Wettable                                                                            4.0   87  98  107 1    88  103  106 1                                 (Com-                                                                              powder                                                                              2.0   95  102 105 3    93  108  106 2                                 para-                                                                              40   1.0   99  100 102 4    98  99   102 4                                 tive)                                                                          No  --   --    100 100 100 4.5  100 100  100 4.5                               treat-                          (86.7                                                                              (9.7 cm)                                                                            (47.4                                 ment                            cm)      kg/a)                                 __________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 4 Foliar treatment test on lawn

A tarf field of each of bent grass (Be), bluegrass (Bl), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) (Fe) and Zoysia (Zoysia matrella) (Zo) was divided into unit plots 2.25 m². Five days after mowing in a height of 25 mm, 5.0 ml of a diluted solution of each compound was uniformly applied to each plot by means of a hand sprayer. Three weeks after the application, the evaluation was conducted by the same evaluation standards as used in Test Example 1.

The change in the color of leaves was evaluated under the following standards:

    ______________________________________                                         Color of leaves                                                                ______________________________________                                         Withering:     Slight          B-1                                                            Little          B-2                                                            Substantial     B-3                                             Deepening:     Slight          G-1                                                            Little          G-2                                                            Substantial     G-3                                             Densification: Slightly high   D-1                                                            Substantially high                                                                             D-2                                                            Very high       D-3                                             ______________________________________                                    

The results are shown in Table 5.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Results of foliar treatment on lawn                                                     Dose of                                                                        active                                                                Compound ingredient                                                            No.      (g/a)     Be       Bl    Fe     Zo                                    ______________________________________                                         1        20        4        4     4.5 G-1                                                                               4 D-1                                          10        3        3     4      3                                              5         2        2     3      2                                     3        20        4.5 G-2  4     4.5 G-2                                                                               4 D-1                                          10        4        3     4      3                                              5         3        2     3      2                                     5        20        4.5G-1   4.5 G-2                                                                              4.5 G-1                                                                               4.5 G-2                                        10        4        4     4      4                                              5         3        3     3      3                                     8        20        4.5 G-1  4.5 G-2                                                                              4.5 G-2                                                                               4.5 G-2                                        10        4        4     4      4                                              5         3        3     3      3                                     11       20        4.5 D-2  4     4.5 G-1                                                                               4.5 G-1                                        10        4        3     4      4                                              5         3        2     3      3                                     14       20        4 D-1    4     4 D-1  4 D-1                                          10        3        3     3      3                                              5         2        2     2      2                                     16       20        4        4     4 D-1  4                                              10        3        3     3      3                                              5         2        2     2      2                                     20       20        4 D-1    4     4.5 G-1                                                                               4 D-1                                          10        3        3     4      3                                              5         2        2     3      2                                     22       20        4.5 G-3  4.5 G-2                                                                              4.5 G-2                                                                               4.5 G-2                                        10        4 D-2    4 D-1 4 D-2  4                                              5         3        3     3      3                                     24       20        4.5 G-2  4     4.5 G-2                                                                               4 D-1                                          10        3        3     3      3                                              5         2        2     2      2                                     26       20        4 D-2    3     4 D-1  4 D-1                                          10        3        2     3      3                                              5         1        1     1      2                                     28       20        4.5 G-3  4.5 G-2                                                                              4.5 G-2                                                                               4.5 G-1                                        10        4 D-2    4     4      4                                              5         3        2     3      3                                     29       20        4.5 D-1  4     4.5 G-2                                                                               4.5 G-2                                        10        4        3     4      4                                              5         2        2     2      3                                     30       20        4.5 D-2  4.5   4.5 G-2                                                                               4.5 G-2                                        10        4        4     4      4                                              5         2        2     3      3                                     32       20        4 D-1    3     4 D-1  4                                              10        3        2     3      3                                              5         2        1     2      2                                     40       20        2        2     3      2                                     (Com-    10        1        1     2      1                                     parative)                                                                               5         0        0     1      0                                     ______________________________________                                    

TEST EXAMPLE 5 Dwarfing tests on various green trees

Seedlings of various green trees grown in a 200 cm² pot, which were nearly in the same growth degree, were selected. At the elongation period of fresh buds i.e. at spring, a diluted solution of each compound was sprayed in an amount corresponding to 10 l/a to the seedlings by a hand sprayer. Two weeks later, the phytotoxicity responses such as withering of leaves were evaluated, and the evaluation of the growth control and other responses were conducted three months later. The growth control effects were evaluated in accordance with the same standards as in Test Example 1. The results are shown in Table 6.

With respect to the heights test plants at the time of spraying, azelea (Rhododendron indicum) (Rh) and box tree (Buxus microphylla) (Bu) had a height of from 25 to 30 cm, and Chinese hawthorn (Photinia glabra) (Ph) and Juniperus chinensis (Ju), had a height of from 35 to 40 cm.

    ______________________________________                                         Phytotoxicity                                                                  Withering of leaves:                                                                              Slight      B-1                                                                Little      B-2                                                                Substantial B-3                                             Whitening or yellowing:                                                                           Slight      C-1                                                                Little      C-2                                                                Substantial C-3                                             Other responses                                                                Deepening:         Slight      G-1                                                                Little      G-2                                                                Substantial G-3                                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         Dwarfing tests on various green trees                                                   Concentra-                                                                     tion of                                                                        active                                                                Compound ingredient                                                            No.      (%)       Rh       Bu    Ph     Ju                                    ______________________________________                                         1        0.3       5        4.5   5      4                                              0.1       4.5      4     4.5    3.5                                            0.03      3        3     3      2                                     3        0.3       5        4.5   5      4                                              0.1       4.5      4     4.5    3                                              0.03      4        3     4      2                                     4        0.3       5 B-1    5 C-1 5 B-1  5 G-2                                          0.1       5 G-2    4.5   5      4.5                                            0.03      4        4     4      4                                     6        0.3       5 B-1    5 C-1 5 B-1  5 G-1                                          0.1       5        5     5      4.5                                            0.03      4        4     4      4                                     8        0.3       5 B-1    5     5 B-1  5 G-1                                          0.1       5 G-1    5     5 G-1  4.5                                            0.03      4        4     4      3                                     12       0.3       5 B-1    5     5 B-1  5 G-1                                          0.1       4.5      4.5   4.5    4                                              0.03      4        4     4      3                                     17       0.3       5        4.5   4.5    4                                              0.1       4.5      4     4      3                                              0.03      3        3     3      2                                     21       0.3       5        4.5   5      4                                              0.1       4.5      4     4.5    3                                              0.03      3        3     3      2                                     22       0.3       5 B-1    5 C-1 5 B-1  5 B-1                                          0.1       5 G-2    5 G-2 5 G-1  4.5                                            0.03      4        4     4      3                                     23       0.3       5 B-1    5 G-2 5 G-2  5                                              0.1       5 G-2    4.5   5 G-1  4                                              0.03      4        3     4      3                                     25       0.3       5 C-1    5 C-1 5 G-2  5                                              0.1       5        4.5 G-1                                                                              5 G-1  4.5 G-2                                        0.03      4        4     4      3                                     28       0.3       5        5 C-1 5 G-2  5                                              0.1       5 G-2    5     5      4.5                                            0.03      4        4     4      3                                     30       0.3       5 B-1    5     5 B-1  5                                              0.1       4.5      4.5   5 G-2  4.5                                            0.03      4        4     3.5    3                                     35       0.3       5        4.5   5      4                                              0.1       4.5      4     4.5    3                                              0.03      3        3     3      2                                     40       0.3       5        4.5 G-1                                                                              5      4 B-1                                 (Com-    0.1       4.5      4     4      2                                     parative)                                                                               0.03      3        1     2      1                                     ______________________________________                                    

TEST EXAMPLE 6 Sucker control test on tobacco

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) (Yellow) planted in May was pinched after flowering, and the axillary buds were piched by hand. Then, 10 ml of a solution of a predetermined concentration of each compound was sprayed to the top of the stems of the plants. The number of axillary buds per plant, the dry weight of axillary buds per plant and the sucker control ratio were examined two weeks and four weeks after the spraying, and the phytotoxicity was evaluated four weeks after the spraying. The results are shown in Table 7.

The sucker control (%) was computed in accordance with the following equation. The phytotoxicity was evaluated by the same standards as in Test Example 5. Each treated plot contained five plants, and the test results are shown by the mean values. ##EQU1##

                                      TABLE 7                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Results of Sucker control test on tobacco                                                Two weeks later from the spraying                                                               Four weeks later from the spraying                      Concentra-  Dry weight       Dry weight                                        tion of                                                                              Number of                                                                            of         Number of                                                                            of                                            Com-                                                                               active                                                                               axillary                                                                             axillary                                                                             Sucker                                                                              axillary                                                                             axillary                                                                             Sucker                                  pound                                                                              ingredient                                                                           buds per                                                                             buds per                                                                             control                                                                             buds per                                                                             buds per                                                                             control                                                                             Phyto-                             No. (%)   plant plant (g)                                                                            ratio (%)                                                                           plant plant (g)                                                                            ratio (%)                                                                           toxicity                           __________________________________________________________________________     1   0.3   2.3   0.2   95.5 2.6   0.3   98.7                                        0.1   3.0   0.3   93.2 3.3   0.4   98.3                                        0.03  3.2   0.3   93.2 3.7   0.5   97.9                                    4   0.3   1.4   0.1   97.7 2.2   0.3   98.7                                        0.1   2.4   0.2   95.5 2.7   0.3   98.7                                        0.03  3.1   0.3   93.2 3.5   0.4   98.3                                    8   0.3   1.7   0.1   97.7 2.0   0.2   99.2 C-1                                    0.1   2.5   0.2   95.5 2.6   0.3   98.7                                        0.03  2.8   0.2   95.5 2.8   0.3   98.7                                    22  0.3   1.5   0.1   97.7 1.7   0.2   99.2 C-1                                    0.1   2.3   0.2   95.5 2.8   0.3   98.7                                        0.03  2.9   0.2   95.5 3.6   0.3   98.7                                    28  0.3   2.2   0.2   95.5 2.5   0.3   98.7                                        0.1   2.8   0.3   93.2 3.1   0.4   98.3                                        0.03  3.5   0.3   93.2 3.8   0.5   97.9                                    34  0.3   1.8   0.1   97.7 2.1   0.3   98.7 C-1                                    0.1   2.2   0.2   95.5 2.8   0.3   98.7                                        0.03  3.0   0.3   93.2 3.2   0.4   98.3                                    40  0.3   2.7   0.3   93.2 3.2   0.5   97.9                                    Com-                                                                               0.1   3.1   0.3   93.2 3.4   2.3   90.3                                    para-                                                                              0.03  3.7   0.5   88.6 3.8   5.1   78.3                                    tive                                                                           No  --    9.3   4.4   --   10.2  23.2  --                                      treat-                                                                         ment                                                                           __________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 7 Thinning test on apples

A few branchs of an apple tree (Fuji) of 12 years old per plot were selected. A solution of each compound having a predetermined concentration was sprayed to the entire branches in an amount sufficient to wet the entire branches, which corresponds to 20 l/a, by a sprayer. Two months later, mean values of the fructification ratios of fruits in central to fruits in lateral, and the transversal diameters of the tested fruits, were computed and the ratios relative to a non-treated portion were determined. The results are shown in Table 8. The numerical values are indicated by rounding off to decimal place. The value in the brackets () in Table 8 are the actually measured values.

                                      TABLE 8                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Results of thinning test on apples                                             Concentra-                                                                     tion of     Number of tested                                                                         Fructification ratio                                                                     Trans-                                         active      fruits    of tested fruits (%)                                                                     versal                                         Compound                                                                             ingredient                                                                           Fruits in                                                                           Fruits in                                                                           Fruits in                                                                           Fruits in                                                                           diameter                                       No.   (ppm) central                                                                             lateral                                                                             central                                                                             lateral                                                                             of fruits                                      __________________________________________________________________________     1     100   37   91   83   12   111                                                  30    29   120  85   14   109                                                  10    34   95   86   17   108                                            6     100   41   118  83   8    109                                                  30    29   103  90   11   114                                                  10    35   92   88   15   107                                            8     100   33   89   82   7    113                                                  30    37   95   87   10   108                                                  10    30   103  85   13   109                                            22    100   35   88   87   8    110                                                  30    28   115  88   7    115                                                  10    33   94   85   10   108                                            24    100   38   120  81   9    112                                                  30    32   81   84   15   109                                                  10    27   108  91   18   109                                            31    100   40   76   88   11   111                                                  30    27   89   87   13   109                                                  10    35   117  85   17   108                                            40    100   38   81   72   5    107                                            (Com- 30    23   130  85   12   106                                            parative)                                                                            10    26   79   92   25   104                                            No    --    36   84   91   32   100                                            treat-                          (36.8 mm)                                      ment                                                                           __________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 8 Elongation control test on new branches of grape

A field of young trees of grape (Delaware) was divided into plots so that each plot contained three plants. At the second elongation period i.e. middle of August, a diluted solution of each compound was sprayed to the entire young tree in an amount corresponding to 10 l/a. One month after the spraying, the evaluation was conducted by the same standards as in Test Example 5. The results are shown in Table 9.

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Results of elongation control test on new                                      buds of grape                                                                          Concentra-                                                                     tion of       Elongation                                               Com-    active        control                                                  pound   ingredient    degree on Other                                          No.     (%)           new buds  responses                                      ______________________________________                                         1       0.3           5         C-1                                                    0.1           4                                                                0.03          3                                                        2       0.3           5                                                                0.1           4                                                                0.03          2                                                        5       0.3           5         C-1                                                    0.1           4                                                                0.03          3                                                        8       0.3           5                                                                0.1           4                                                                0.03          3                                                        12      0.3           5                                                                0.1           4                                                                0.03          3                                                        21      0.3           5                                                                0.1           3.5                                                              0.03          2                                                        22      0.3           5         C-1                                                    0.1           4                                                                0.03          3                                                        23      0.3           5                                                                0.1           4                                                                0.03          2                                                        29      0.3           5                                                                0.1           4                                                                0.03          3                                                        33      0.3           5                                                                0.1           3.5                                                              0.03          2                                                        40      0.3           5         B-1                                            (Com-   0.1           3                                                        para-   0.03          1                                                        tive)                                                                          ______________________________________                                    

TEST EXAMPLE 9 Sprouting control test on onion

A field of onion (Shonan Gokuwase) transplanted in autumn was divided into plots of 5 m², and at 10 days prior to harvest, a diluted solution of each compound having a predetermined concentration was uniformly sprayed to the plot in an amount corresponding to 5 l/a by a hand sprayer. After harvesting, onions were dried in the sun in a green house without cutting off their leaves for one week and then, stored in a well ventilated storage with a slate roof until autumn. Every one month, the rottening rate and the sprouting rate were computed. 50 onions were stored per plot. The results are shown in Table 10.

                                      TABLE 10                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Results of sprouting control test on onion                                     Dose                                                                           of      One month later                                                                         Two months later                                                  active                                                                             Rotten-                                                                            Sprout-                                                                             Rotten-                                                                            Sprout-                                                                             Three months later                                                                       Four months later                          Com-                                                                               ingre-                                                                             ing ing  ing ing  Rotten-                                                                             Sprout-                                                                             Rotten-                                                                             Sprout-                               pound                                                                              dient                                                                              rate                                                                               rate rate                                                                               rate ing rate                                                                            ing rate                                                                            ing rate                                                                            ing rate                              No. (g/a)                                                                              (%) (%)  (%) (%)  (%)  (%)  (%)  (%)                                   __________________________________________________________________________     1   20  5   0    7   0    10   0    14   0                                         10  4   0    8   0    12   0    16   2                                         5   8   1    9   2    14   4    16   8                                     3   20  7   0    9   0    12   0    16   0                                         10  4   0    9   0    14   1    13   3                                         5   5   0    8   1    14   2    16   8                                     6   20  3   0    8   0    10   0    12   0                                         10  5   0    9   0    13   1    15   2                                         5   5   0    9   1    15   2    18   6                                     7   20  5   0    7   0    10   0    12   0                                         10  5   0    8   0    12   0    14   1                                         5   7   0    9   1    14   2    16   4                                     9   20  5   0    7   0    12   0    14   0                                         10  8   0    10  1    14   4    18   8                                         5   9   1    12  2    16   6    18   14                                    14  20  4   0    6   0    10   0    12   0                                         10  5   0    8   0    10   0    14   1                                         5   8   0    10  1    12   2    14   4                                     20  20  5   0    7   0    10   0    12   0                                         10  7   0    10  1    14   2    16   2                                         5   8   1    12  2    14   4    18   8                                     22  20  5   0    7   0    10   0    14   0                                         10  4   0    8   0    12   0    16   2                                         5   8   1    9   2    14   4    16   8                                     24  20  7   0    9   0    12   0    16   0                                         10  4   0    9   0    14   1    13   3                                         5   5   0    8   1    14   2    16   8                                     27  20  3   0    8   0    10   0    12   0                                         10  5   0    9   0    13   1    15   2                                         5   5   0    9   1    15   2    18   6                                     40  20  5   0    10  0    14   1    16   8                                     (Com-                                                                              10  7   1    10  2    14   10   14   20                                    para-                                                                              5   5   2    12  6    16   15   18   25                                    tive)                                                                          No  --  7   4    10  18   22   40   28   62                                    treat-                                                                         ment                                                                           __________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 10 Inhibition of flower stem development of radish

A field of open-field early-sowing radish (Raphanus sativus) (disease resistant and entirely thick) sown in early April, was divided into plots of 5 m². Immediately before flower stem development, a diluted solution of each compound was sprayed to the entire terrestrial foliage in an amount corresponding to 5 l/a. Two weeks later, the flower stem developing rate and flower stem length were evaluated, and one month later, the root weight was evaluated. The evaluations were conducted with respect to 20 plants per plot, and mean values of the flower stem lengths and the root weights were computed. The results are shown in Table 11. The numerical numbers are indicated by rounding off to desimal place, and the values in the brackets () are the actually measured values.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         Results of inhibition of flower stem development on radish                             Dose                                                                           of                                                                             active                                                                         ingre-  Flower stem                                                                               Flow stem                                           Compound                                                                               dient   developing length   Root weight                                No.     (g/a)   rate (%)   (cm)     (g)                                        ______________________________________                                         1       10      15         5.5      285                                                5       30         7.2      323                                        8       10      10         4.5      331                                                5       30         8.0      290                                        19      10      20         7.3      282                                                5       40         13.5     305                                        22      10      15         5.3      315                                                5       30         8.5      297                                        28      10      20         5.8      308                                                5       35         9.8      275                                        31      10      20         6.6      295                                                5       40         11.5     330                                        40      10      20         7.0      278                                        (Com-   5       75         31.6     340                                        parative)                                                                      No      --      90         35.6     290                                        treat-                                                                         ment                                                                           ______________________________________                                    

TEST EXAMPLE 11 Dwarfing test on chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum (yellow paragon) shoot transplanted in early August was picked two weeks after the transplanting, and then, grown by night lighting. A unit plot consisted of five pots each having a surface area of

200 cm². 5 ml of a solution of each compound having a predetermined concentrations was applied to each pot. The evaluations were conducted one month and two months (flowering period) after the treatment. The results are shown in Table 12. The numerical value represents a ratio of the mean value of five plants relative to the non-treated plot, which is indicated by rounding off to decimal place. The values in the brackets () are the actually measured values.

                                      TABLE 12                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Results of dwarfing test on chrysanthemum                                      Concentra-                                                                               One month                                                                            Two months later (flowering period)                                tion of                                                                              later                  Effective                                     Com-                                                                               active                                                                               Height of                                                                            Height of                                                                           Length of                                                                            Number of                                                                            number of                                                                            Time lag                                pound                                                                              ingredient                                                                           plant plant                                                                               scape leaves                                                                               flowers                                                                              of                                      No. (ppm) (%)   (%)  (%)   (%)   (%)   flowering                               __________________________________________________________________________     4   600   60    64   61    101   99    2                                           200   63    70   72    112   105   0                                       8   600   53    56   54    108   102   2                                           200   62    67   63    92    106   0                                       11  600   60    65   68    118   110   1                                           200   68    72   70    105   108   0                                       23  600   60    66   52    97    100   2                                           200   63    71   64    108   101   0                                       29  600   55    52   45    110   114   2                                           200   65    68   60    92    107   0                                       34  600   65    70   61    115   105   1                                           200   78    84   75    102   111   0                                       40  600   60    74   70    108   100   1                                       (Com-                                                                              200   82    90   84    96    103   0                                       para-                                                                          tive)                                                                          No  --    100   100  100   100   100   (0)                                     treat-    (34.8 cm)                                                                            (44.5 cm)                                                                           (3.3 cm)                                                                             (21.5)                                                                               (13.5)                                        ment                                                                           __________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 12 Foliar treatment test on sugar cane

A field of sugar cane grown to the initial stage of ripening, was divided into unit plots so that each plot contained 6 plants, and a solution having a predetermined concentration was sprayed to the foliage in an amount corresponding to 20 l/a by a small sprayer. Two months later, the heading state was evaluated by the same standards as in Test Example 1, and the sugar content of the pressed juice was measured by means of a polarimetric sugar content meter. The results are shown in Table 13.

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         Results of foliar treatment test on sugar cane                                         Concentra-                                                                     tion of     Results of tests                                                     active        Sugar                                                  Compound  ingredient    content Heading                                        No.       (g/a)         (%)     control                                        ______________________________________                                         1         400           14.21   5                                                        200           13.88   5                                                        100           13.85   4.5                                            8         400           13.98   5                                                        200           13.76   5                                                        100           13.73   5                                              20        400           14.02   5                                                        200           13.78   5                                                        100           13.65   4.5                                            22        400           14.01   5                                                        200           13.77   5                                                        100           13.65   5                                              29        400           14.13   5                                                        200           13.82   5                                                        100           13.89   4.5                                            40        400           13.60   5                                              (Compara- 200           13.41   4.5                                            tive)     100           13.21   4                                              No        --            10.41   0                                              treatment                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

TEST EXAMPLE 13 Growth control test on weeds in a non-agricultural field

To examine the growth inhibition of large weeds, respective dominant fields of miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis) (Mi) and goldenlod (Solidago altissima) (So) were divided into unit plots of 10 m². A diluted solution of each compound was uniformly applied to the entire surface of each plot in an amount corresponding to 100 l/10 ares by a hand sprayer. A micro-granule formulation was applied manually. One month after the application, the growth control was evaluated by the same standards as in Test Example 1. Three months after the application, the heights of the weeds were measured. The results are shown in Table 14.

                                      TABLE 14                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Results of growth control test on weeds in a non-agricultural field                                Height of weeds (cm)                                       Compound                                                                             Dose of       Mi        So                                               No.   active                                                                               Growth control                                                                              Three     Three                                       Formula-                                                                             ingredient                                                                           after one month                                                                        At the                                                                              months                                                                              At the                                                                              months                                      tion  (g/a) Mi  So  treatment                                                                           later                                                                               treatment                                                                           later                                       __________________________________________________________________________     1     50    5   5   70-100                                                                              70-100                                                                              60-70                                                                               60-80                                       50%   25    4.5 4   70-110                                                                              80-110                                                                              70-90                                                                                80-110                                     Wettable                                                                             12.5  4   3   80-100                                                                              90-120                                                                              70-80                                                                               100-120                                     powder                                                                         8     50    5   5   80-110                                                                              80-110                                                                              70-90                                                                               70-90                                       25%   25    5   5   70-110                                                                              80-110                                                                               70-100                                                                              80-100                                     Flowable                                                                             12.5  4   4   70-90                                                                               80-110                                                                              60-80                                                                               70-90                                       14    100   5   5   80-110                                                                              80-110                                                                              60-90                                                                               60-90                                       4% Micro-                                                                            50    5   5   70-90                                                                               70-90                                                                               60-80                                                                               70-90                                       granule                                                                              25    4   4   80-100                                                                              90-110                                                                              70- 90                                                                               80-110                                     formula-                                                                       tion F                                                                         22    100   5   5   70-100                                                                              70-100                                                                              70-80                                                                               70-80                                       4% Micro-                                                                            50    5   5   80-100                                                                              90-100                                                                              70-90                                                                                80-100                                     granule                                                                              25    4   4   70-110                                                                              80-120                                                                              60-70                                                                                80-120                                     formula-                                                                       tion                                                                           28    50    5   5   80-100                                                                              70-100                                                                              60-80                                                                               60-90                                       25%   25    5   4   70-100                                                                              70-100                                                                              60-90                                                                                80-100                                     Emulsifi-                                                                            12.5  4   3   70-110                                                                              80-120                                                                              70-90                                                                               100-140                                     able                                                                           concen-                                                                        trate                                                                          35    50    5   5   80-110                                                                              90-100                                                                              60-90                                                                               70-90                                       50%   25    4.5 4   70-100                                                                              90-110                                                                              70-90                                                                                90-110                                     Wettable                                                                             12.5  4   3   70-90                                                                               80-110                                                                              60-80                                                                                90-130                                     powder                                                                         40    50    5   5   70-110                                                                              80-110                                                                              70-90                                                                                80-100                                     50%   25    4   3   80-110                                                                              90-120                                                                               70-100                                                                             100-150                                     Wettable                                                                             12.5  2   1   70-100                                                                              130-170                                                                             70-90                                                                               150-180                                     powder                                                                         (Com-                                                                          parative)                                                                      No    --    0   0   60-100                                                                              180-220                                                                             60-90                                                                               180-200                                     treat-                                                                         ment                                                                           __________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 14 Test for effect of prolonging the life of cut flowers

Cut flowers of carnation (Diauthus caryophllus) at bud period were divided into unit plots so that each plot contained three cut flowers, and the test was conducted by the following two methods.

(1) A diluted solution of each compound was prepared by an addition of each compound to 200 ml of water in a flower vase so that the diluted solution had a predetermined concentration, and cut flowers were put in the vase.

(2) A bud part of cut flowers was immersed in a solution of each compound having a predetermined concentration for a few seconds, the solution was softly shaken off, and the cut flowers were put in the vase.

During the test period, sterilized water was added to the flower vases.

The effect for prolonging the life of cut flowers was indicated by the number of days from the time when the flowers of a non-treated plot became no longer acceptable for display i.e. 9 days after the beginning of the test. The evaluation of the phytotoxicities such as withering were conducted one week after the beginning of the test in accordance with the following standards.

    ______________________________________                                         Withering of leaves:                                                                             Slight       L-1                                                               Little       L-2                                                               Substantial  L-3                                             Withering of petal:                                                                              Slight       P-1                                                               Little       P-2                                                               Substantial  P-3                                             ______________________________________                                    

The results are shown in Table 15.

                  TABLE 15                                                         ______________________________________                                         Test for effect of prolonging the life of cut flowers                          Concentra-  (1) Water absorption                                                                          (2)                                                 tion of     method         Immersing method                                    Com-  active    Effect of        Effect of                                     pound ingredient                                                                               prolonging                                                                               Phyto- prolonging                                                                             Phyto-                                No.   (ppm)     the life  toxicity                                                                              the life                                                                               toxicity                              ______________________________________                                         1     50        8         L-1    10                                                  25        8                9                                                   12.5      7                8                                             3     50        8                9                                                   25        9                8                                                   12.5      8                8                                             14    50        7                9                                                   25        6                7                                                   12.5      6                8                                             20    50        9         L-1    9                                                   25        10               9                                                   12.5      9                8                                             22    50        8         L-1    10                                                  25        8                9                                                   12.5      8                9                                             29    50        8         L-1, P-1                                                                              9       P-1                                         25        8                9                                                   12.5      9                8                                             40    50        6         L-1    7                                             (Com- 25        6                6                                             para- 12.5      5                5                                             tive)                                                                          No    --        0         0      --      --                                    treat-                                                                         ment                                                                           ______________________________________                                     

We claim:
 1. A benzamide derivative of the formula: ##STR42## wherein R₁ is hydrogen or methyl, and R is hydroxyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, alkenylalkoxy, alkoxyalkoxy, amino, C₁ -C₄ monoalkylamino, monoalkenylamino, dialkylamino or O-cat wherein cat is a metal, ammonium or an organic cation.
 2. A plant growth regulant containing a benzamide derivative of the formula A as defined in claim
 1. 3. The benzamide derivative according to claim 1, which is: ##STR43## 